The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced two new trustees - Mentzendorff managing director Andrew Hawes and Jonathan Driver who, after leaving Diageo in 2006, has become a global consultant.

This follows the retirement of Bill Page and Christopher Hayman from the WSET board.

The board of eight trustees are nominated by the four ‘founding fathers’ of WSET, with the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) having 3 representatives each on the board, with one representative each from the Worshipful Company of Distillers and the Institute of Masters of Wine.

Hawes is a director of the WSTA and joins the WSET board as the association’s representative. Mentzendorff is the UK agent for family owned brands including: Champagne Bollinger, Taylor’s Port, and M.Chapoutier.

Driver, who is well known in the spirits trade principally for his work with Diageo’s global blended Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker, represents the Worshipful Company of Distillers.

Laura Jewell MW, chairman of the board of trustees said: “As the WSET continues its growth into new markets, the expertise of both Andrew and Jonathan – who are both very active in the wine and spirits markets globally – will play a big part in helping to formulate the Trust’s future strategic direction”.

Wine & Spirit Education Trust CEO Ian Harris, said: “Having known both Andrew and Jonathan for over ten years, I am looking forward to working with them, and the rest of the Board of Trustees, as we move WSET into the next period of expansion.”